The Mag Amp---magnetic amplifier

[deuceaid]

Has anyone around here ever worked with them? I know that there were some navy training manuals about them but that is all.

Thanks Jason

 

[trog]

Line-powered TIG welders use magnetic amplifiers, aka "saturable-core reactors", to control current on the AC side of an AC - DC circuit. They are like transformers, but they have a control winding and a load winding. Increasing DC current through the control winding will saturate the core and reduce the reactance (electrical inertia) of the load winding, allowing more AC current to flow through it. Like transformers, they fail when the winding insulation breaks down and you get shorted turns. They are not complicated if you know what the objective is.

 

[deuceaid]

yes i know it is a form of control,,, like a vacuum tube or transistor ,,,,but when it is used at higher freq it may not work , ie 400 mgz. I would like to build a 2 meter fm radio out of iron and wire

 

[deuceaid]

bump....?

 

[Rustygears]

Mag amps are for low frequency control of large currents. They are still widely used in high current switching supplies that run at 20 - 50KHz. The magnetics don't work at 144MHz for 2m.

 

[deuceaid]

Mag amps are for low frequency control of large currents. They are still widely used in high current switching supplies that run at 20 - 50KHz. The magnetics don't work at 144MHz for 2m.

ah , ok, thanks for the reply, and your only over the hill( not an age joke),,,, bet I have spoken with You before!!